Excess acid in your stomach can cause uncomfortable heartburn if it travels up into your esophagus. This may cause damage to the lining of your stomach and esophagus over time. Your doctor may recommend a stomach acid test to determine if your levels of stomach acid are normal or to assess if excess acid is the cause of an ulcer. Modifying your normal eating habits may provide a great deal of relief by preventing excess secretion of stomach acid.

Size and Timing of Meals

Hydrochloric acid secreted in your stomach is needed to properly break down and digest proteins. It is extremely acidic, with a pH around 2, according to Biology at Clermont College. If you overeat, your stomach secretes more acid to digest the large volume of food, while going too long between eating can cause a buildup of acid when no food is being digested. The best approach to avoid excess acid or irritation from acid buildup is to eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.

Avoid High-Fat Foods

Think twice about eating french fries, pizza or ice cream. High-fat foods are more difficult to digest and remain in your stomach for a longer period of time. The longer they are in your stomach, the more hydrochloric acid is secreted to break them down. If you suffer from acid reflux, having food in your stomach longer may mean more discomfort from heartburn, according the University of Michigan Health System. Keeping your meals low in fat will encourage your body to digest the food quickly and prevent your stomach from releasing excess acid.

Choose Beverages Wisely

Certain beverages trigger the release of excess stomach acid. Coffee and other caffeinated beverages such as tea, soda and energy drinks stimulate secretion of hydrochloric acid. Carbonated beverages, whether caffeinated or not, seem to increase stomach acid as well and may cause irritation to your stomach lining. All alcohol significantly increases the release of stomach acid, and in large quantities may cause damage to the lining of your stomach. Try drinking more water and milk and avoiding these irritating beverages.

Prevent Pain and Irritation

While some foods may not cause more gastric acid to be secreted, they can lead to pain in and irritation of the lining of your stomach. Over time, the irritation and breakdown of the stomach lining can cause gastric ulcers. In order to minimize the pain, avoid highly acidic foods, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and soda, and stay away from food heavily spiced with chili powder, red pepper and black pepper.

About the Author

Erica Kannall is a registered dietitian and certified health/fitness specialist with the American College of Sports Medicine. She has worked in clinical nutrition, community health, fitness, health coaching, counseling and food service. She holds a Bachelor of Science in clinical dietetics and nutrition from the University of Pittsburgh.